Sprinkling device for locomotive ash pans



Dec.- 24, 1929. KASSANDER SPRINKLING DEVICE FOR LOCOIOTIVE ASH PANS R m m m .L; A TTORNEY BY wm,

Filed Sept. 3 1925 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFI'CE LEOPOLD KASSANDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO NATHAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRINKLING DEVICE FOR LOGOMOTIVE ASH PANS Application filed September 30, 1925.

This invention relates generally to means and a method for cooling the contents of the ash pan 'of a steam locomotive through a sprinkling operation.

In the operation of steam locomotives it is necessary at relatively frequent intervals to apply a cooling medium to the ashes and hot coals which drop into the ash pan from the grate bars. The precaution of cooling the contents of the ash pan is required in order to prevent scorching or burning of the material of which the ash pan is made and also to prevent the starting of fires from the dropping or hot coals on the ties, or the blowing of hot cinders or coals into fields or woods adjoining the tracks.

It has been found in practice that the most desirable medium for cooling the ash pan contents is water, delivered with a sprinkling action, at a moderate pressure, and at a comparatively low temperature, in order to avoid the possibility of scalding or scattering coals and ashes on persons in the near vicinity of the locomotive. A general object of the present invention is to provide means and amethod for cooling a locomotive ash pan, and which will embody the desirable characteristics referred to.

The invention includes a sprinkler device located in the ash pan and means under the control of the operator in the cab for supplying water to the sprinkler at will.

A feature of the invention resides in the use of an ejector to which steam may be supplied for transmitting energy to a stream of water received from the injector supply pipe and forcing the water through a supply pipe to the sprinkler device in the ash pan.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the application of a preferred embodiment of the invention to a steam locomotive. Figure 2 is a view partly in section showing the arrangement of the injector and ejector which are of known construction and not novel herein.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description of the invention, at 10 is shown the rearmost portion of a locomotive boiler, the lower part of which forms a fire box 11 under which is mounted the usual ash Serial No. 59,599.

pan 12 in which is received ashes and coals which drop through the bars of the grate in the fire box.

The locomotive is equipped with the usual injector device 13 by means of which water is forced through the delivery pipe 14 into the boiler when the injector is operated by the flow of steam therethrough from the steam supply pipe 15, the steam being delivered to the injector through a control valve operated by suitable hand actuating device located in the cab 16 of the locomotive. At 17 and 18 are shown handle members for operating the water valve 28 and the overflow valve 29 of the injector 13.

The operation of the injector is well known in that steam admitted thereto from the pipe 15 is condensed and creates a vacuum into which water rushes from the supply pipe 19, the intermixed water and steam being then impelled by the continued pressure of steam from the pipe 15 to provide a momentum which will cause the intermixed steam and water to travel along the feed pipe lat into the boiler.

In order to insure a supply of water to the injector when wanted, the injector is ordinarily located at a level which is lower than the water supply tank carried on the tender so that water will flow by gravity through the pipe 19 to the injector device.

The injector and its associated controlling devices represents a standard type of mechanism of this general nature and is shown herein because the water feed pipe of the injector is used to furnish a supply of water for the sprinkler device forming the subject matter of the invention hereinafter described.

The sprinkling device consists of an ejector 20 connected through a pipe 21 with a T- coupling 22 inserted in the feed pipe 19 of the injector 13. A steam supply pipe 23 is provided for operating the ejector 20 and in the steam line 23 is placed a valve 24 accessible to the operator stationed in the cab 16. The discharge end of the ejector 20 delivers water into a feed pipe 25 which terminates in a perforated pipe 26 mounted in the ash pan 12 so that water discharged through the perforations 27 in the pipe 26 operate to valve 24;, water being supplied to the ejector through the manipulation of the valve31. The ejector 2O thereupon functions to produce a flow of water through the feed pipe 25 in the perforated pipe 26 in the ash pan 12. The supply of water to the perforated pipe 26 is under a sufliciently low pressure to obviate the possibility of forcing coals and ashes out of the ash pan and the Water thus sprinkled in the ash pan is at a sufficiently lowtemperature to materially assist in the cooling of the ash pan and its contents.

It will be seen that means have thus been provided whereby the driver of the locomotive may at any tlme bring about the cooling of the ash pan and its contents by the simple manipulation of the valve 31 tosupply water from the injector feed pipe 1 9 and the opening of the steam valve 24 to provide a flow of steam through the pipe 23 to deliver water through the pipe 25 into the perforated or sprinkler pipe 26 located in the ash pan. It will also be seen that the sprinkler device is at all times under the control of the operator and accessible to him so that the cooling func tion can be applied whenever found desirable by the operator.

The language and expressions which have been employed throughout the specification are used as terms of description only and not of limitation, and such terms are intended to include all the equivalents and suchmodifieations as are possible to be employed within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is 1. In a device for cooling the contents of a locomotive ash pan, a sprinkler mounted to discharge water into the ash pan, an ejector,

means for supplying steam from the boiler to operate the ejector, valve means in the cab for controlling the steam supply means, a conduit for supplying water from the tender to the ejector, valve means in the cab for controlling the supply of water to the ejector, and a conduit through which water is delivered by the ejector to the sprinkler.

2. In a device for cooling the contents of a locomotive ash pan, a sprinkler mounted to discharge water into the ash pan, an injector for delivering water from the supply on the tender into the boiler, an ejector, a conduit for supplying steam from the boiler to operate the ejector, valve means accessible from the cab of the locomotive for controlling the sup ply of steam to the ejector, a conduit through which water may be supplied from a supply pipe to the injector and the ejector, valve ber, 1925.

LEOPOLD KASSANDER. 

